[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8510-8512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3951]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Mission Statement; European Port Infrastructure and Security 
Trade Mission to Germany, Belgium and Italy May 4-8, 2009

AGENCY: Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce's International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, is organizing a 
Trade Mission to Germany, Belgium and Italy, May 4-8, 2009. This event 
is intended to tap immediate opportunities in port infrastructure, and 
security and logistics in Hamburg, Germany; Antwerp, Belgium; and 
Genoa, Italy. Because these ports are key gateways to the Western 
European market, companies from countries beyond Germany, Belgium, and 
Italy will be informed about the mission and encouraged to meet with 
the U.S. participants.
    The program will focus on several major areas, including, but not 
limited to, the following:
    (1) Port safety and security, including container tagging, chemical 
and radiation detection equipment, electronic container seals, tracking 
equipment, virtual simulation products and other high-technology 
security items, and training (such as first responder);
    (2) Port logistics and infrastructure, including supply chain, 
communications, crisis management, risk management products, disaster 
control shore-based electricity, inland connections, terminal railroad 
infrastructure, pipelines and other solutions for liquid bulk and 
petrochemical products;
    (3) Port environment, including reduced emissions, clean engine 
developments and GreenPorts Certification; and
    (4) European maritime policies.
    The trade mission will expose participating companies to 
procurement opportunities in maritime ports and showcase U.S. 
technology, which is highly regarded and maintains a competitive edge 
in Europe.

Commercial Setting

    As in other markets, Europe places a strong emphasis on homeland 
security, transportation, environmental safety and critical 
infrastructure development. The need for information exchange and 
security concerning the maritime industry continues to create 
opportunities in the maritime sector in Europe. Approximately 90 
percent of the transport of goods to and from the European Union is by 
sea. The European Union has adopted rules regarding maritime safety and 
security to ensure quality shipping that respects the environment and 
guarantees an optimal level of protection. The current European 
maritime transport policy calls for safety and security measures that 
will allow the European maritime industry to continue making the most 
of its already prominent role to maximize its competitive position. The 
major focus is on environmental impact, safety, unification and 
simplification of procedures. This scenario will provide excellent 
opportunities for U.S. companies operating in a variety of areas.
    End-users consider the U.S. security equipment industry to be a 
leader in the global marketplace. U.S. producers will continue to have 
a competitive advantage because of their know-how and technological 
edge. Solutions to be considered will include, among many other items, 
handheld scanners, pagers, portal monitors, radiation identification 
devices, cargo and baggage screening equipment, non-intrusive 
inspection technology, access control and identification systems, video 
surveillance equipment and communication software for data integration.
    In European ports, a strong demand is developing for emissions-
reducing technologies. This demand is triggered mainly by European 
Union legislation pushing for important reductions in gaseous 
emissions, especially greenhouse gases, CO, NOX and 
SOX. The underlying political drivers are the EU's 
commitment to the Kyoto Protocol and its Clean Air For Europe (CAFE) 
program. As EU Member states have some freedom in the actual 
implementation of the EU legislation, and they will likely pass on the 
burden to execute the national emission-reduction targets to the port 
areas, which are notorious polluters. Key commercial leads will include 
any and all technologies that lead to higher energy efficiency of both 
onshore (port facilities and infrastructure) and offshore (vessels) 
equipment. Examples are shore-based electricity networks (``cold 
ironing''), exhaust filters for diesel engines and power plants, and 
low-sulfur fuels. As the legislative process is ongoing, companies 
interested in this area could benefit from developing relations with 
port authorities and other semi-public stakeholders as direct sources 
of information in the future.

Mission Goals

    The trade mission's goal is to introduce U.S. exporters of port-
related equipment, systems, and services to potential public and 
private end-users and partners, including potential agents, 
distributors, and licensees, with the aim of creating business 
partnerships that will contribute to increasing U.S. exports to 
European markets.

Mission Scenario

    The mission will include meetings with individuals from both the 
public sector (e.g., port authorities and customs officials) and 
private business (e.g., shipping agents, marine terminal operators, and 
local security systems companies). In each country, participants will 
receive a briefing that will include market intelligence, as well as an 
overview of the country's economic and political environment. A 
networking reception is planned at each stop. The mission will also 
include a brief tour of the ports of Hamburg, Antwerp and Genoa, 
briefings by port authorities on planned projects and expected 
infrastructure and security needs, and one-on-one business meetings 
between U.S. participants and potential end-users and partners. Follow-
on business meetings in other countries in the region can be set up 
before or after the trade mission for an additional price, depending on 
participants' wishes.

[[Page 8511]]

Proposed Timetable

    The proposed schedule allows for about a day and a half in each 
port area. Efforts will be made to accommodate participating companies 
with particular interests that require individual schedules within one 
stop.

Sunday, May 3, through         Mission begins in Hamburg, Germany.
 Tuesday, May 5, 2009.
                               Welcome briefing.
                               Business matchmaking: 1 full day of
                                appointments.
                               Tour of port.
                               Networking reception.
                               Participants will depart Hamburg the
                                morning of Tuesday, May 5, by air, and
                                proceed to Brussels, Belgium.
Tuesday, May 5, through        Mission's second stop: Antwerp, Belgium
 Thursday, May 7.               (via mini-bus from Brussels).
                               Welcome briefing.
                               Tour of port.
                               Networking reception.
                               Business matchmaking: 1 full day of
                                appointments.
                               The delegation will depart Belgium via
                                Brussels the morning of May 7 and
                                proceed to Milan, Italy.
Thursday, May 7, through       Mission's third and last stop: Genoa,
 Friday, May 8.                 Italy.
                               Welcome briefing.
                               Business matchmaking: 1 full day of
                                appointments.
                               Tour of port.
                               Networking reception.
                               Participants are free to depart for their
                                home destinations on the evening of May
                                8.
 

Criteria for Participation and Selection

    A minimum of 8 and a maximum of 15 companies will be selected to 
participate in the mission from the applicant pool. The target 
participants will include U.S. companies specializing in security, 
infrastructure, environmental protection, and communications systems. 
As large European ports attract all sorts of industries, U.S. 
applicants with business interests in other sectors will also be 
considered.

Fees and Expenses

    After a company has been selected to participate in the mission, a 
payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a participation 
fee is required. The participation fee is $3,000 per company for small 
or medium enterprises (SME \*\) and $3,700 per company for large firms. 
The fee for each additional firm representative (large firm or SME) is 
$500 per person. Expenses for lodging, most transportation (except, for 
example, bus transportation to Antwerp, Belgium), most meals, and 
incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant.
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    \*\ An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or 
that otherwise qualifies as a small business under SBA regulations 
(see http://www.sba.gov/services/contracting_opportunities/sizestandardstopics/index.html). Parent companies, affiliates, and 
subsidiaries will be considered when determining business size. The 
dual pricing schedule reflects the Commercial Service's user fee 
schedule that became effective May 1, 2008 (see http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html for additional 
information).
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Conditions for Participation

     An applicant must submit a completed and signed mission 
application and supplemental application materials, including adequate 
information on the company's products and/or services, primary market 
objectives, and goals for participation. If the Department of Commerce 
receives an incomplete application, the Department may reject the 
application, request additional information, or take the lack of 
information into account when evaluating the applications.
     Each applicant must also certify that the products and 
services it seeks to export through the mission are either produced in 
the United States, or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm 
and have at least 51 percent U.S. content of the value of the finished 
product or service.

Selection Criteria for Participation

     Suitability of the company's products or services to the 
target sectors and markets;
     Applicant's potential for business in the target markets, 
including likelihood of exports resulting from the mission; and
     Relevance of the company's business line to the mission's 
goals.

Referrals from political organizations and any documents containing 
references to partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) will be removed from an applicant's submission and not 
considered during the selection process.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner. 
Outreach will include posting on the Commerce Department trade mission 
calendar http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html and other Internet Web 
sites, press releases to general and trade media, direct mail, 
broadcast fax, notices by industry trade associations and other 
multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia, 
conferences, and trade shows. The U.S. Commercial Service offices in 
Italy, Germany and Belgium, in cooperation with port area U.S. Export 
Assistance Centers and the Global Safety and Security, Environmental, 
and Europe Teams will lead recruitment activities.
    The mission will open on a first come first served basis. 
Recruitment will begin immediately and close March 16, 2009. 
Applications received after March 16, 2009, will be considered only if 
space and scheduling constraints permit. Interested U.S. firms may 
contact the mission project officer listed below or visit the mission 
Web site: http://www.buyusa.gov/europe/security_events.html#_section2.
    Contacts:

Greg Thompson, Senior International Trade Specialist, e-mail: 
[email protected], U.S. Commercial Service, North Texas USEAC, 
Tel: 214-712-1932, Fax: 214-746-6799.

Maria Calabria, Commercial Specialist, e-mail: 
[email protected], U.S. Commercial Service Italy, Via 
Vittorio Veneto 119/A, 00187 Rome,

[[Page 8512]]

Italy, Tel: 011-39-06 4674 2427/2382, Fax: 011-39-06 4674 2113.

    Dated: February 18, 2009.
Greg Thompson,
Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service, North 
Texas USEAC.
[FR Doc. E9-3951 Filed 2-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P